Psoriasis is a chronic, non-contagious skin disease. This disease keeps recurring. Very rarely, psoriasis can affect joints, nails and mucous membranes. People of all ages are prone to psoriasis. According to statistics, there is a tendency for the disease to develop in childhood.
Psoriasis is absolutely not a contagious disease of a chronic nature. Most dermatologists tend to believe that psoriasis is a systemic disease. In their opinion, the disease affects not only a specific area of the skin, but also involves almost all systems of the body (endocrine, immune, nervous) in the pathological process.
From the outside, it may seem that psoriasis is a mild disease. In reality, however, this is far from being true. The disease is dangerous. Deaths are known in dermatology. If treated prematurely or incorrectly, psoriasis affects the entire body, causing serious complications. For example:
- Psoriatic arthritis
- swollen lymph nodes
- Conjunctivitis
- Mucosal damage
- Flattening and damage to the nail plates
- spontaneous pain
- Amyotrophy
- rarely - heart damage
Psoriasis, as a rule, does not interfere with the usual rhythm of life of a sick person. The only inconvenience is the peeling and inflammation of the skin. Unfortunately, it is impossible to recover from this disease, but it is quite possible to suspend its development or prevent relapses from occurring. To do this, it is sufficient to comply with all medical regulations and to be systematically treated in a hospital.
Causes of Psoriasis
There is no specific cause for the onset of the disease. There are many factors that can lead to the development of psoriasis. There is no unequivocal opinion on one reason or another in dermatology. There are many versions. Most dermatologists believe that the disease is genetically predisposed. It is impossible to clearly confirm or deny that heredity is the main reason. There are cases when the whole family has contracted psoriasis.
In other words, we can say this: if a mother has psoriasis, it is not necessary that her offspring definitely show signs of the disease. But it is also impossible to rule out a genetic predisposition. For example, if a grandmother has this disease, it is possible that grandchildren will never be diagnosed with psoriasis. The question of the causes of the development of the disease at the gene level remains open to this day.
The next factor that, according to many dermatologists, can provoke the appearance of psoriasis is a disease of the endocrine system. For example adrenal dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, pituitary dysfunction. The percentage of signs of psoriatic disease in people with endocrine disorders is quite high. Hence there is a connection between diseases and is proven by numerous examples.
In addition to the reasons listed above, there are many endogenous factors. For example:
- Postponed infectious diseases like tonsillitis. According to statistics, 17% of surveyed patients believe that psoriasis is a consequence of complications of angina.
- Chronic infectious pathological processes such as laryngitis or tonsillitis can also cause psoriasis diseases.
- Long-term use of certain drugs: interferons, NSAIDs, beta blockers, and others.
- As strange as it sounds, pregnancy can also lead to the development of psoriasis. Significant hormonal changes occur in the body of a woman, which often provoke a dormant pathological process in the body.
- It is impossible to exclude the negative effects on the human body of excessive consumption of ultraviolet radiation, that is, prolonged exposure to the scorching sun or frequent visits to the solarium.
Of course, in addition to endogenous factors, there are also a number of exogenous causes. For example, skin diseases (dermatitis, mycosis, pyoderma), mechanical damage to the integrity of the skin, allergic dermatitis.
Interesting fact. Psoriasis is significantly more common in people infected with HIV than in healthy people. It is important to note that women are more prone to psoriasis than the male population. Dry, thinned, and sensitive skin is another predisposing factor.
You should know that this pathology often provokes psoriasis when a person has immune system disorders. Immune diseases and psoriatic diseases are closely related.
There are a variety of reasons that lead to psoriasis, but there is not a single one that would lead to the development of the disease entirely.
Types and forms of psoriasis
Psoriasis is a multiforme disease. According to statistics, people usually only have one form of psoriasis at a time. However, there are cases when a person has had multiple forms of psoriasis at the same time. Very often in dermatological practice and in those cases where one form of psoriasis smoothly passed into another. Such "rebirth" usually leads to a sudden discontinuation of the prescribed treatment.
In dermatology, there are two main groups of types of psoriasis: non-pustular and pustular.
Pustular shapes- Barbera psoriasis, psoriasis of the soles of the feet and palms (see photo), tsumbusha psoriasis, annular pustulosis. This form of psoriasis is traditionally divided into generalized and localized. The final pustular psoriasis can appear on absolutely any area of skin. There are cases when pustules form on plaques in psoriasis vulgaris.
As an example of an independent disease, consider allopo-acrodermatitis. This disease is usually characterized by lesions of pustules and crusts of the distal phalanges of the fingers and toes. Another example of an independent disease of a localized form of psoriasis is pustular psoriasis of the soles of the feet and palms. It is important to note that some dermatologists believe that this disease is a form of pustular bacteriide.
Generalized psoriasis of the pustule includes:
- herpetiform impetigo,
- Psoriasis Tsumbusha,
- exanthemic generalized psoriasis.
Men between the ages of 15 and 35 usually suffer from Tsumbush psoriasis. This disease is much less common in women.
Exanthemic pustular psoriasis occurs abruptly (suddenly) and acutely. In most cases, it has a close relationship with other infectious diseases, such as tonsillitis. The rash is mainly localized on the trunk. Children and adolescents are more often susceptible to the disease than adults.
Herpetiform impetigo is a serious illness that can lead to death. This disease is usually characteristic of pregnant women, more often in the second trimester. However, in dermatological practice, there are still extremely rare cases of the disease in men, not pregnant women and children.
Non-pustular psoriasis. . . In other words, we can say simple psoriasis. This form of the disease differs from others in a stable course. In the non-pustular form of psoriasis, almost the entire surface of the body is affected. This type includes:
- erythrodermic psoriasis
- Psoriasis vulgaris or common or plaque.
Ordinary psoriasis is quite common, up to 90% of patients with psoriasis are patients with the vulgar form of the disease.
Psoriatic erythroderma is a serious disease that often leads to a fatal outcome - the death of the patient. With the disease, there is a violation of the function of thermoregulation, as well as a decrease in the barrier function of the skin. These pathologies lead to pyoderma or sepsis.
Classification and symptoms of psoriasis
There is no single classification of psoriasis that is widely accepted by dermatologists. There is still debate about how this skin disease can be classified. Some sources have their own list of forms of psoriasis. The most common classification of the disease:
- Guttate psoriasis
- Pustular psoriasis
- Psoriatic onychia
- Psoriasis of the mucous membranes
- Exudative psoriasis
- Psoriasis of the soles of the feet and palms
- Arthropathic psoriasis
- Intertriginous psoriasis
- Psoriatic erythroderma
- Seborrheic psoriasis
- Vulgar psoriasis
- Pustular bacteria
- Tsumbusha psoriasis
Arthropathic psoriasisis almost asymptomatic at first. Patients sometimes only notice slight pain in the joints. Over time, the pain intensifies, becomes sharp and acute. The affected joints swell. If the disease is not treated, the joints are deformed and their range of motion is reduced. Arthropathic psoriasis is usually often associated with rheumatoid pain. In winter there is an exacerbation of the disease, that is, seasonality is characteristic of such psoriasis.
Pustular psoriasis. . . It is not common that only 1% of the total mass of patients with psoriasis falls on this type of disease. In most cases, the rash is symmetrical and localized on the soles and palms. Pustular psoriasis is generalized and localized. The latter form is more common than the previous one. Generalized pustular psoriasis is difficult. In dermatology, deaths from sepsis and severe body poisoning are common.
Psoriatic erythroderma. . . Severe psoriasis due to worsening of existing psoriasis. This disease can be a result of either the worsening of the underlying disease or the first time it has appeared. Secondary erythroderma psoriasis usually develops in 2% of those affected.
Very often this disease occurs spontaneously, but cases of psoriasis as a result of improper, irritating treatment of dermatosis in the acute period of the disease are not excluded. Patients notice an increase in the pathological foci of desquamation, an increase in temperature and dehydration. In dermatological practice there have been deaths from psoriatic erythroderma.
Guttate psoriasis- The second most common disease among all forms of psoriasis. Children and adolescents suffer more often. It is characterized by the appearance on the skin of a large number of dry, purple and small elements that slightly rise above the surface of the unaffected skin. The rash is in the shape of a drop, circle, or tear. As a rule, the elements cover the entire human body, but most are localized "close" to the thighs. In most cases, the appearance of teardrop-shaped psoriasis is caused by a streptococcal infection. For example, strep throat, streptococcal pharyngitis.
Psoriatic onychia. . . This disease is characterized by various changes in the appearance of the nail plate on both hands and feet. First of all, the color of the nail changes, sometimes the nail bed together. The nail turns gray, yellow, or white. Points or small spots appear on the nails and sometimes even under the nail plate. The nail plate thickens, banding and brittleness appear. Another clinical manifestation of the disease is thickening of the skin around the nail bed. The difficult outcome of psoriatic onychia is spontaneous loss of the nail.
Psoriasis of the mucous membranes- is a type of pustular psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris. The mucous membrane of the cheeks, tongue and lips is most often affected, and less often the mucous membrane of the genitals and eyes. In the pustular form of psoriasis, the rashes are more extensive, a large area of the mucous membrane is affected, and geographic glossitis is noted. With common psoriasis, flat white-gray papules with clear borders appear on the mucous membranes protruding above the unaffected surface.
Psoriasis of the soles of the feet and palms. . . This disease is a form of localized pustular psoriasis. This form is usually chronic and repetitive. In dermatology, there are cases when Barbera's psoriasis progresses simultaneously with plaque psoriasis. Pustules appear on the inner surface of the hands and / or feet. Over time and under the influence of medical therapy, the vesicle pustules dry out. Then such dried elements form dense brownish crusts.
Intertrigue psoriasis. . . This disease is characterized by the appearance of rashes in mainly large folds of the skin. For example, intergluteal, folds between the fingers, groin folds, armpits and the area under the mammary gland. Intertrigue psoriasis is more common in people with diabetes mellitus, VSD (vegetative vascular dystonia), and obesity who do not follow simple hygiene rules.
In the folds, erythematous-papular edematous foci are formed, erosive and weeping. An important feature of the elements of this disease is that the detachment of the stratum corneum is pronounced along the periphery. Intertrigue psoriasis is very similar to epidermophytosis, candidiasis or rubromycosis. It is important to note that the clinical picture of candidiasis or dermatomycosis is much brighter and sharper than that of psoriasis.
Seborrheic psoriasis. . . The symptoms of seborrheic psoriasis are very similar to seborrheic eczema. Psoriasis rash usually has the same localization as the elements with seborrheic eczema. It may be:
- Nasolabial folds
- Scalp
- Auricles
- Chest area
- Interscapular region
In seborrheic psoriasis, there are areas on the head where dense flakes of skin are noted. An important feature of this disease is the formation of a kind of psoriasis crown. The lesion of the skin emerges from the forehead and gently spreads to the scalp. In such a simple way the outlines of the crown appear. It should be noted that dandruff is an alarm signal that "speaks" of the development of seborrheic psoriasis.
Red eczema usually forms behind the auricle, and purulent crusts are often stratified. Grayish-yellow scales are characteristic of rashes localized on the chest and face. A psoriatic rash is always very itchy. It is important to note that seborrheic psoriasis is difficult to diagnose because it is often confused with seborrhea.
Exudative psoriasis. . . This type of psoriasis is more common in children and the elderly. A fairly high risk of developing this disease in patients with disorders of the endocrine and immune systems. Exudative psoriasis often affects the healthy skin of people who are overweight or have diabetes.
This disease is characterized by an excessive accumulation of exudate in the papule, which gradually comes to its surface and forms yellowish crusts. When the crusts are removed, a weeping and bleeding surface is exposed. The scales dry out over time and lie on top of each other, creating a fairly dense and massive conglomerate.
The main feature of exudative psoriasis is a clear localization of pathological foci. Typically, the lower limbs and large wrinkles are most affected. The rash gives a person the most itching and burning sensations. The clinical picture of this disease is sharp and acute.
Vulgar psoriasis. . . It has different names in different sources. For example, plaque, common, simple. This type of psoriasis ranks first in terms of prevalence - this type is seen in almost 90% of patients with psoriasis. The disease usually begins acutely enough. The first symptoms appear almost immediately.
Vulgar psoriasis is characterized by the appearance of typical elements that slightly rise above the unaffected areas of the skin. The rash is inflamed, red, and hot to the touch. The elements are thickened and covered with a silver-white, flaky, dry film (skin) that easily peels off.
You should be aware that gray crusts can be easily removed, which leads to a violation of the lower layer of the papule, which is endowed with numerous small vessels. This usually results in a slight undercut. The affected lesions in dermatology are called psoriatic plaques.
Such plaques tend to merge, which leads to their enlargement. Over time, plaque plates form, which have a special name - "paraffin lakes". Psoriasis eruptions with common psoriasis are severely scaly. Treatment is long-term and requires inpatient treatment.
Pustular bacteria. . . According to statistics, this disease occurs mainly in young people (from 20 years old) and middle-aged (up to 50 years old). The exact etiology of the pustular bacteriids is not known. It is believed that the disease develops against the background of a strong and persistent allergy associated with foci of infection. For example carious teeth, tonsillitis or tonsillitis.
Psoriasis eruptions affect the skin of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The pustular bacteride is chronic and recurrent. The first foci appear, if on the palms, then in the middle, if on the sole, then on the arch. Primary psoriatic elements are small and do not exceed the size of the pen head. Over time, the pustules dry out and form lamellar crusts. Patients feel severe itching and pain in the affected areas.
A paroxysmal course of the disease is characteristic of a pustular bacteriid. At the same time, inflammation occurs in all areas affected by psoriasis. Gradually, the foci of psoriasis increase, and after a few weeks almost the entire surface of the palms or soles of the feet is drawn into the pathological process. As a rule, the pustular bacterium lasts for years and with constant relapses.
Diet in psoriasis
Patients with psoriasis just need to follow a diet and follow the basic principles of proper nutrition. The main task of the diet is to maintain a normal acid-base balance. However, it is important to note that the body's alkaline background should slightly outweigh the acidic.
Of course, the body's balance depends on the foods that psoriasis patients consume on a daily basis. For any person suffering from this disease, it is important to know that 70% of their daily diet is due to products that form alkali in the body. For acidification - no more than 30%. To put it more simply, one can say: products that produce alkali have to be consumed four times more than acid-forming ones.
List of products that form alkali in the body:
- Any vegetables except rhubarb, pumpkin, and Brussels sprouts. It is important to note that potatoes, peppers, eggplants and tomatoes are strictly prohibited.
- Fruit shouldn't be excluded. The main thing is not to use plums, cranberries, currants and blueberries. It is worth noting that bananas, melons and apples should not be eaten at the same time as other foods.
- Be sure to drink fresh vegetable juices made from carrots, beets, parsley, celery and spinach.
- Fruit juices made from grapes, pineapple, pear, orange, papaya and grapefruit, mango, lemon and apricot can be consumed daily. It is important that you add lemon juice to your food.
The list of foods that psoriasis patients should not eat (acid form):
- You should completely eliminate or keep to a minimum the consumption of foods that contain starches, fats, sugars, and oils. Typically these include the following foods: potatoes, beans, cream, cheese, cereals, meat, dried peas. An unbalanced daily intake of these products inevitably leads to the triggering of acid reactions in the blood. The result is a deterioration in wellbeing.
- It is important that you properly balance your food. There are a number of foods that it is prohibited to consume at the same time. For example, meat products should not be combined with foods that contain a large amount of sugar, as well as sweets and starches.
- It is important to limit your sugar intake. Preservatives, vinegar, colors and various food additives should be included in the diet as little as possible.
- The most important point is that the consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages must be completely excluded.
Any psoriasis patient should remember that eating right is an important part of treating this disease. Roasting must be replaced by stewing or boiling. It is necessary to eat foods that are processed gently.
Psoriasis treatment
Treatment of psoriasis should be in a hospital during an exacerbation, and on an outpatient basis - during remission. Diet is an important point in treatment. Fasting days are useful.
In addition to diets and special treatments, it is important to carefully monitor skin hygiene. It is best to use tar soap for washing. You can also use baby soap. You should take a bath with a brew of celandine, purple tricolor or hops as often as possible.
If there are no contraindications, then you can try treating psoriasis and folk remedies. Do not experiment and do not self-medicate. Only a doctor has the right to advise which folk remedy is useful and necessary.
List of safe and effective ointments for psoriasis:
- A packet of butter butter (but not spread out) should be placed in a saucepan with crushed propolis (10 g). Put on fire and cook after 15 minutes of cooking. After - it is necessary to thoroughly sieve the mixture and let it cool. Only keep this medicine in the refrigerator. Method of application - rub into the affected area several times a day.
- Fresh St. John's wort flowers (20 g), celandine, propolis and marigold flowers (10 g) must be ground in a clay bowl. Vegetable oil is added to the resulting mixture. Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight. Method of application - Thoroughly lubricate psoriatic eruptions three times a day.
- In a liter of white wine, boil the gallbladder and scales of sea fish, the weight of which exceeds three kilograms, on a relatively low flame for half an hour. Let cool, strain and add a glass of olive oil. Method of application - Wash the affected areas thoroughly with ice soap and wipe dry. After that, lubricate the elements with this mixture. The course of treatment lasts until the medicine is used up.
- Mix equal parts celandine powder and petroleum jelly thoroughly (by weight) thoroughly. Method of application - the ointment is applied to the rash in a thin layer and left for up to three days. After that you have to take a short break of about 4 days. Treat until the psoriasis is completely gone.
- A tablespoon of vegetable oil is added to beaten homemade eggs (2 pieces). The mixture is beaten again and acetic acid (40 g) is introduced. Store the ointment in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Method of application - treatment of psoriatic eruptions once a day, preferably at night.
- An equally effective and widely used means of treating psoriasis is healing mud. The mud must be warmed to 38 degrees and applied to the affected skin. This process should be done in the evening, preferably before going to bed. After 30 minutes the dirt is removed with warm water. It is important to remember that after the dirt, any rashes should be treated with saline solution. The body should dry out and the excess salt should fall off. Without washing or moisturizing the skin, you need to go to bed. And only in the morning smear psoriatic elements with cream. The recommended course includes 20 procedures (every other day).
Regardless of the chosen method of treating psoriasis, it must be negotiated with the treating dermatologist.